The AVMA-CAN “Invite Five” Challenge
This month, we are asking every AVMA-CAN member to invite five colleagues to join our grassroots network. If the last election cycle taught us anything, it’s that the power of a passionate grassroots network is the most important asset any organization can have.
The Obama campaign was effective because they had an army of supporters willing to volunteer, attend rallies and donate money at the drop of a hat. They had a strong grassroots network, not just because they had a cause and a candidate people were willing to support, but because they understood how to attract and keep their members active.
The single most important thing the Obama campaign did to build a grassroots network was listen. They didn’t ignore the conversations happening online, but instead embraced this method of communication. If they wanted to engage people, they knew they needed to go to where the conversation was already taking place, not just expect people to come to them.
The next steps for building a network were done for the campaign by the early adopters of the message. People shared graphics, texts, videos and other messages that originated from the campaign through online social networking tools. The campaign also encouraged people to create their own content. With features like “create your own event” and “create your own Obama group,” the campaign provided the tools for people to meet, organize, fund-raise and canvass voters, allowing them to take ownership in the movement. They weren’t just followers; they could become part of the campaign from their home.
Because solicitations to join the movement came from trusted friends and family, people were more willing to click on a link or forward a message on to their network of friends. This peer-to-peer communication allowed the message to spread, and strong relationships were built between the campaign and the grassroots members.
Think about how you engage with the AVMA-CAN. Do your friends and colleagues know about the CAN? Do they receive the Advocate every month? Do you encourage them to browse though the site to see how the CAN is working in the interest of veterinarians and animal welfare.
Every organization’s greatest resource is their members. You can be an activist for our cause with a click of a mouse, and it will be more valuable than a thousand ads. With this in mind, we are asking you to invite five colleagues to join the AVMA-CAN
Send them the link to the CAN homepage at http://avmacan.avma.org/avma/home. Invite them to take part in the political process so their voice can join yours. They may share your concerns about the legislation that affects you as a veterinarian, but not be aware of the advocacy opportunities the AVMA-CAN offers. Just as we need your emails, calls and letters, to get our message heard in Washington, we need your advocacy efforts among your personal network. Please ask your family, friends and colleagues to join us in our efforts and further strengthen our voice on Capitol Hill.
For more information, please contact Stephanie Fisher at sfisher@avma.org.